I am updating my system and need some help on a card to buy. My money is limited but I need to upgrade from my 7800gtx

I do not have the money to buy a i7 system so I will be buying a quad core with a cheap motherboard. Maybe the Q9550.

I have listed the potential cards:

XFX ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048MB £289

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC 1024MB £279

EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 55nm £187

BFG GeForce GTX 295 1792MB £379

I will not be upgrading my pc for a fair bit of time. The GTX 295 is the most expensive and will clear me out of money but if its considered the best bet ill get it. The GTX 260 is a fair bit cheaper but im not sure if saving £100 is clever for long run.

I run off a tv which is 1920x1200. I like high quality for my graphics but I do not really care about AA (can not really tell difference).

The games I play are: BF2, Cryostatis, Burnout and I would like to play Crysis.

many thanks

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I wish to try my best to stay away from SLI as I have heard many bad things (as well as good). I am an enthusiast to a point but I just wish to play games without hassle. Even the GTX 295 and the 4870X2 have their downsides.

I hate selecting hardware :S Normally it is very fun, but since im not building top range pc I just want to get functional stuff.

Next year I will buy super pc

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If you attack a prostitute, is it rape or merely shoplifting?

I'd go for the 55nm GTX 260, just seems like the best bang for the buck when you're on a budget. As well as being able to add in a second one in the future without draining your kids college fund after the build is said and done.

If you do not care about AA, and you have a limited budget, i think that the GTX 260 55nm will do a nice work.

You also can get a "cheap" SLI board, like Revs said, and add a 2nd GTX 260 in the future, if you are not happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveChambers

I'd go for the 55nm GTX 260, just seems like the best bang for the buck when you're on a budget. As well as being able to add in a second one in the future without draining your kids college fund after the build is said and done.

I was just ready to come to a conclusion, then your sage posts have made me think again

I think the 285 GTX is out of the running. For only £10 more I can get a 4870x2 which seems a better bet.

However its the question of whether I should spend 30% less and get a 260gtx.

Decisions Decisions.

The money I have set aside for this is not important money. eg its not money needed for bills etc, so its not that much waste.

__________________
If you attack a prostitute, is it rape or merely shoplifting?

I am updating my system and need some help on a card to buy. My money is limited but I need to upgrade from my 7800gtx

I do not have the money to buy a i7 system so I will be buying a quad core with a cheap motherboard. Maybe the Q9550.

I have listed the potential cards:

XFX ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048MB £289

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC 1024MB £279

EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 55nm £187

BFG GeForce GTX 295 1792MB £379

I will not be upgrading my pc for a fair bit of time. The GTX 295 is the most expensive and will clear me out of money but if its considered the best bet ill get it. The GTX 260 is a fair bit cheaper but im not sure if saving £100 is clever for long run.

I run off a tv which is 1920x1200. I like high quality for my graphics but I do not really care about AA (can not really tell difference).

The games I play are: BF2, Cryostatis, Burnout and I would like to play Crysis.

many thanks

First, the CPU you picked (Q9550) is an awesome choice. 12MG L2Cache is much better than an E8600 for the same money. The new CPU price War just came to my attention last night. Just be sure to OC it.

Second, if you can find a Mainboard : Gigabyte P35-S3G (Chipset : Intel P35) like mine for $79.99 get it. It is so dependable that all the people I told to buy it are nubs but none of them have needed one single second of help.

Third, the Video Card choice must include a Trade Up strategy approach. In just the nick of time I traded up from a GTX280 to a GTX295. And did it early enough to avoid the frenzy.

Forth, the frenzy. The GTX295 is the only card to consider. But it's out of your price range. Every body has learned that the GTX295 does not have the Micro Stutter and SLI Profile problems like the 7950GX2, 9800GX2, and even the 4870X2. Just try and get a GTX295 at Newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...d&Order=PRICED

So, upgrade your existing computer, use the 7800 you already have and watch the prices carefully. Most importantly figure out a Trade Up strategy. 90 to 100 days after purchasing a GTX280 for $450 I almost Traded Up to a GTX285 that retailed for only $379. And I would have had to pay nothing. But luckily I spent a mere $99 more for a GTX295 Trade Up. If if I call the next nVidia series the GTX300- idk what to call it- you have to strategize (Google) when will it be out.

The performance going from a 7800 to any GTX200 will blow you away- along with a Quad CPU with 12MB Cache. I had a 7800GT on a 939 system and just going to an 8800GTX was SICK! But what if you got a GTX200 series at just the right time so that it was possible the Trade up for a GTX300 series?

Besides, see what improvement the new build with the same video card gives you. By the time you purchaise, build, tweek, tweek, so much time can transpire. And before a new card the system it goes on should be super duper Road Tested. While you shop, wait, build etc. you can research.

First, the CPU you picked (Q9550) is an awesome choice. 12MG L2Cache is much better than an E8600 for the same money. The new CPU price War just came to my attention last night. Just be sure to OC it.

Second, if you can find a Mainboard : Gigabyte P35-S3G (Chipset : Intel P35) like mine for $79.99 get it. It is so dependable that all the people I told to buy it are nubs but none of them have needed one single second of help.

Third, the Video Card choice must include a Trade Up strategy approach. In just the nick of time I traded up from a GTX280 to a GTX295. And did it early enough to avoid the frenzy.

Forth, the frenzy. The GTX295 is the only card to consider. But it's out of your price range. Every body has learned that the GTX295 does not have the Micro Stutter and SLI Profile problems like the 7950GX2, 9800GX2, and even the 4870X2. Just try and get a GTX295 at Newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...d&Order=PRICED

So, upgrade your existing computer, use the 7800 you already have and watch the prices carefully. Most importantly figure out a Trade Up strategy. 90 to 100 days after purchasing a GTX280 for $450 I almost Traded Up to a GTX285 that retailed for only $379. And I would have had to pay nothing. But luckily I spent a mere $99 more for a GTX295 Trade Up. If if I call the next nVidia series the GTX300- idk what to call it- you have to strategize (Google) when will it be out.

The performance going from a 7800 to any GTX200 will blow you away- along with a Quad CPU with 12MB Cache. I had a 7800GT on a 939 system and just going to an 8800GTX was SICK! But what if you got a GTX200 series at just the right time so that it was possible the Trade up for a GTX300 series?

Besides, see what improvement the new build with the same video card gives you. By the time you purchaise, build, tweek, tweek, so much time can transpire. And before a new card the system it goes on should be super duper Road Tested. While you shop, wait, build etc. you can research.

GL

Many thanks for you long reply, and I thank you for the time you took. I had an answer written but my pc crashed.

I can get a p35 board very very cheap and I can also pick up a Q5500. Based on your opinion I will buy them tomorrow them as my pc is falling apart very quickly and its driving me mad. The only issue is the card. Im leaning towards the 4870x2 but my head tells me to go for the GTX 260 and ride it out.

decisions

Thanks again for your valuable input.

__________________
If you attack a prostitute, is it rape or merely shoplifting?

Many thanks for you long reply, and I thank you for the time you took. I had an answer written but my pc crashed.

I can get a p35 board very very cheap and I can also pick up a Q5500. Based on your opinion I will buy them tomorrow them as my pc is falling apart very quickly and its driving me mad. The only issue is the card. Im leaning towards the 4870x2 but my head tells me to go for the GTX 260 and ride it out.

I prefer single card solutions myself, and I'd be leaning towards either the 260, or the 285. The 1Gb memory on the 285 means plenty of buffer for the higher rez. To give you an idea, i have a 280, and my flatmate bought a 295. I get no slowdown in GTA4 with high textures, he gets slowdown every 2 - 3 secs because he has less memory buffer.

Yes, the 4870x2 might only be £10 more, but the 285 performs nearly as good, and it's only 1 card.